Sailing and Sea Kayaking the rugged yet beautiful shoreline north of Marquette known as Little Presque Isle to Presque Isle Park in Marquette. This is one adventure that you will not want to miss when you are in the area. Your transportation up to Little Presque Isle is a 1933 National Historical Schooner registered as the Coaster II.

The Coaster II is captained, owned, and maintained by Capt. Niko Economides. Capt. Niko is also the ships carpenter and a master wood carver. He is a very knowledgeable historian of the area as well.

The “Coaster II” is a 58’ long by 12’3” wide Coastal Schooner originally plying the waters off the coast of Maine and Atlantic Seaboard. With over 1600 Sq. Ft. of sail she displaces 38,000 lbs. She has accommodations for sleeping up to 6 passengers and cuts through crystal clear waters of Lake Superior as neatly as dolphins on a bow wave.

All kayaks and paddling gear is included in this adventure as are some snacks . We also provide dry bags for your personal items and a small lunch cooler. Bring along your lunch and drink. We can also provide this for you if you choose. Just let us know.

We request that you meet us alongside the Coaster II at her berth at the Elwood Mattson Park at the Lower Harbor in Marquette no later than 8:30. You’ll find us there loading our kayaks and gear and even a few snacks for our kayaking trip back. Bring along a sandwich for your lunch which we’ll have on the beach at little Presque Isle prior to paddling back to Presque Isle Park. We are off the dock sharply at 9:00 AM as Capt. Niko Economides uses the diesel to break free from our moorings and begins the 1 mile course out of the harbor and around the Presque Isle Light on a north easterly course. This gives us plenty of clearance from the rocks off of Coast Guard Point. You’ll see the Red lighthouse to port or the left to you landlubbers. It has been in continuous operation for almost 150 years. Rounding the Presque Isle Light Capt. Niko has only one thought on his mind and that is to get the sails up and shut down the diesel. A light west or south west wind is best for this leg. We’ll be sailing about 2 miles off shore on a northerly course. In the background you see Sugarloaf Mountain, Mount Marquette, and Hogs Back Mountain, St. Peters Cathedral, the Superior Dome, and might even pass an Ore Freighter arriving or departing the Presque Isle Ore Dock. Presque Isle and the White Rocks pass to our portside as Capt Niko keeps us well clear of the shoal just east of the White Rocks. Sea Birds abound on these rocks most notably Gulls, Cormorants, and an occasional Bald Eagle. To our starboard is Granite Island which is a granite rock formation of about 2 acres that protrudes about 50ft. out of the lake from a base on the lake bottom of about 200 ft. in depth. Our destination is the long sandy beach just to the north of Little Presque Isle and if we didn’t have to do too much tacking we should arrive off the beach at around 12:00.

Offloading the kayaks and gear takes only about 15 minutes and soon its time for a little lunch, or in case we’re running a little late because of the winds, we will have already eaten were can begin getting our spray skirts on and the packing done for our paddle back to Presque Isle. There are two places to stop and do a little cliff diving if you wish. Here on Little Presque or down at the Cove on Presque Isle. If time permits and everyone agrees that is. As we watch the Coaster II slide south bound we wave a paddle salute to thank Capt Nicko for a great ride and then follow a course right along the steep rock faces of Little Presque Isle. Paddling south westerly we’ll pass by Wetmore Landing, a great place for beach parties, and under Sugar Loaf Mountain. Partridge Bay and Partridge Island and a really neat hidden cove are ahead and are all defined by granite rock outcroppings. Look for baby eaglets at the Eagles nest on Partridge Island. Partridge Island has some neat little coves to explore. Then on to Gull Island and Presque Isle ahead as we round the Black Rocks which are Pre-Cambrian and some of the oldest on earth. The Cove is next where you may see some of our local cliff divers or choose(if we are running on time) to so some yourself. Paddling along vertical granite cliffs of over 100 ft. you’ll notice the rock suddenly turns to sandstone, which is sedimentary old ocean bottom. A stark reminder to the up heaving the earth has undergone in years past. Loons are often seen on this trip off Presque Isle as a sloping bottom holds many schools of bait fish.

Paddling around the Presque Isle Breakwall and Light we again have to be cautious of outbound or inbound steamers or pleasure boats as we make our way down to the Picnic Rocks where we paddle to be beach where its just a short hike back to our cars at the Elwood Mattson Park.

You will want to allow around 8 hours for this trip.

Cost is $165 per person with a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 6 per reservation.
Schedule Now for 1 Day Trips departing on:
June 28, July 6, July 20, August 4, August 16

Unguided Kayaking- If you would prefer to do your kayaking without a guide and are qualified(as determined by us) then you may do this trip for $810 or $135 per paddler. You would still be renting the kayaks from us.

It does not include gratituty to the crew for a job well done. Groups may be singular or multiple.

You may schedule this trip with only a credit card # for us to post a date. As other paddlers join they may also schedule with just a credit card # Once we have the 6 paddlers required your card will be charged a 50% deposit and the balance will be due in full 30 days prior to sailing. There is a no cancellation policy on this trip as others are counting on you as one of the 6 required. If something unforeseen occurs and you are unable to make the trip you are still responsible for full payment but will be given a credit on one of our regular kayaking or canoe trips in the future.

Reservations Please Call 906-228-5447
Visit us at our store
321 S. Lakeshore
Marquette, Mi.